Sneaky snake

by Tori
(Arkansas, USA )

Scales?

While walking on a dirt path in Crowley's ridge, Arkansas. We could barely see the scales, the rest of the rock was under a root and mud. We believe this is a snake fossil. Can anyone provide more information?

Comments for Sneaky snake

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I think I know...
by: Anonymous

I'm not 100% sure as I am not a pro at fossil identification, but, I have a fossil very much like this. I'm not sure when you submitted this, but, just in case you still don't know, I'll tell you. I believe it to be a Favosite fossil. A Favosite is an extinct type of coral.

Not a snake
by: Anonymous

It's a fossil coral

I still say snake.
by: Tori

I understand that soft bodies don't typically fossilize. I looked at other snake fossils and saw that they were mostly bone or skeletal remains. The picture doesn't show all of the characteristics of this rock. The scales go all the way around the specimen. The specimen is also coiled. Trademark of a snake. If you can make out the lump in the picture, that would be the head. With a slightly dislocated jaw. However, I do understand that this could all be wishful thinking. Thank you!

Coral I Think
by: Doug

It is very rare for soft body parts to fossilize. My guess would be coral. Many types of coral have that hexagon pattern. Coral fossils are found in Arkansas. Check the maps on this page and see if you can identify where your specimen was found:

http://www.geology.ar.gov/pdf/Collecting%20Fossils%20in%20Arkansas.pdf

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